Steamed Azuki Stuffed Muscovado Cakes

Name: Steamed Azuki Stuffed Muscovado Cakes
Yield: 8 to 10 Cakes
Cuisine: British
Ingredients: 1/2 cup Muscovado OR Dark Brown Sugar *about 70g; 4 tablespoons Warm Water; 1/2 teaspoon Bi-Carb Soda *OR Baking Powder; *Note: Bi-Carb Soda creates a unique flavour, but some people find it unpleasant; 1 cup Plain Flour *plus extra for dusting; 8-10 heaped-tablespoonfuls ‘Tsubu-an’ (Sweet Azuki Paste) that is firmly cooked

Hiroko Liston @hirokoliston

Melbourne, Australia

In the suburb of Melbourne where I live, Japanese sweets are almost impossible to purchase. If I want to eat them, I have to make them. This type of steamed cake is called ‘Manjū’ in Japanese. I never knew that it is quite easy to make until I tried.

Hiroko Liston @hirokoliston

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Ingredients

8 to 10 Cakes

1/2 cupMuscovado OR Dark Brown Sugar *about 70g
4 tablespoonsWarm Water
1/2 teaspoonBi-Carb Soda *OR Baking Powder
*Note: Bi-Carb Soda creates a unique flavour, but some people find it unpleasant
1 cupPlain Flour *plus extra for dusting
8-10heaped-tablespoonfuls ‘Tsubu-an’ (Sweet Azuki Paste) that is firmly cooked
'Tsubu-an' (Sweet 'Azuki' Paste)

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Steps

1

*Note: Today I made 8 Cakes. If you are good at wrapping, you can make 10 or more Cakes with thinner layer of the dough, that is preferable.
2

Roll ‘Tsubu-an’ (Sweet Azuki Paste) into 8 to 10 same-sized balls. *Note: If ‘Tsubu-an’ is rather soft, it would be very challenging to wrap with this dough. I recommend to freeze the balls of ‘Tsubu-an’.
3

Place Muscovado, Warm Water and Bi-Carb Soda in a mixing bowl, and mix well. Add Flour and form a dough, that might be sticky and rather soft. Wrap and set aside at a cool place (Or in the fridge) for 30 minutes.
4

Divide the dough into 8 to 10 balls on a lightly floured surface. Flatten out each ball by hands into a cup shape that is large enough to wrap an Azuki ball. Place an Azuki ball in centre, then wrap around and seal the edges.
5

Place each cake on a piece of baking paper (size 8 x 8cm). Steam for 10 minutes. Enjoy while still warm.